Conshohocken funeral home collects gift cards for tornado victims

CONSHOHOCKEN — Shortly after the horrifying television images of the devastation caused by a tornado touching down in Moore, Okla., were broadcast nationwide, the owners of two local funeral homes sprang into action.

“We are collecting gift cards for a church and a synagogue in Moore, Okla.,” said Chris Ciavarelli, director and supervisor at Ciavarelli Family Funeral Homes. “It started right after we watched the news reports. We felt the urge to do something.”

Ciavarelli said the funeral home distributed flyers in Conshohocken and Ambler asking for gift card contributions.

“We have gotten some real nice responses,” he said, “from as little as a $10 gift card to a $300 gift card. So people can get things that they need to start rebuilding their lives.”

The drive has attracted gift card contributions of slightly more than $3,000, and the funeral home owners have contributed an additional $500, he said.

Ciavarelli said the gift card format was chosen because it is easy to use for disaster victims.

The fliers have been posted at local businesses in Conshohocken and Ambler since May 20. Some have also gone up at area schools.

“We have always been involved in the community locally,” Ciavarelli said. “As far as reaching out to a community out of state this is the first time. We felt we had the need to do something.”

Last week the funeral home sent out the first batch of gift cards to the Emanuel Synagogue and the Oak Crest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City by registered mail for distribution. Rabbi Abby Jacobson of the Emanuel Synagogue is the head of the Interfaith Alliance for the relief efforts in Oklahoma City, Ciavarelli said.

“We will continue our fundraising efforts. We are still accepting donations,” he said. “Their lives will be distraught for a long time so we will continue this ...

“The first tornado that went through was more than one mile wide. Conshohocken is actually one square mile so that puts the damage in perspective.”